Featured Cache

Cacher of the Month - November 2007

Smoley Squad’s First Mission was probably MY worst mission. I work as a CAD operator from home for a company in Brandon. I make a few trips a year out to Brandon and Virden, and of course, I like to cache while out there. One day while working in the Brandon office, I slipped away during my lunch hour to get a cache in the Brandon hills. The cache was in a wooded area near a subdivision built on a slope. I read in the cache description that there are underground springs in the area, but I wasn’t prepared for what I encountered. I bushwhacked my way towards Ground Zero with the GPSr whirling madly due to heavy leaf cover. Naturally I was wearing white pants and platform sandals. My family will tell you that I am woefully unprepared sometimes. I took a step into what looked like a slightly muddy area, and I sank to my knees. The pull of what seemed like quicksand threw me off balance. I grabbed for the nearest branch, which was dead, of course. It broke in my hands and I plopped to the ground. I tried to get up and pitched forward. Now I was completely covered in some kind of muck, and whatever was sucking me downwards grabbed my sandals, and that is the last I have seen of them. This experience in the hills of Brandon is what inspired my story about the little old Polish lady known as Ivanna. I had to return to work after this experience. Here is a link to my log.

When did you start Geocaching?

I found my first cache on December 30, 2006.

How did you find out about Geocaching?

My online friend, Sally, has been caching for years. In early 2006, she told me about it. She, her husband, and another couple cache together as team 5oaks in Michigan. I set up my username at that time, but didn’t actually find a cache until 8 months later. I would like to mention here that Sally contracted a case of Lyme’s Disease this year, and since it was from a tick that she got while out geocaching – be careful out there people!

What was it about geocaching that got you hooked into the game?

Like many cachers, I loved scavenger hunts as a kid. Geocaching is just a big scavenger hunt so what could be more fun! Especially as it gets you outdoors and getting a little exercise too. The combination of technology, exercise, the thrill of the hunt all made the “sport” very enticing for me. But as TurdleEggs says, I came for the caching, but stayed for the people. It’s a wonderful bunch of people.

Have you ever introduced someone to geocaching? If so, who?

Flatimer and I were visiting a mutual friend at the hospital when we started discussing geocaching, and soon thereafter I saw him logging caches. During a weekend trip to High Lake in May, John and I introduced our hiking friends to geocaching. One of them in particular really enjoyed it. She commented on what an adrenaline rush it was to find the cache. Recently I was visiting with Internet friends in Hershey, PA. One of them (Big_Sky) is a geocacher due to the fact that I piqued her interest, and she and I went caching with a non-caching friend, and that friend was the first to spot one of the caches, and she was so excited. She is now saving her money for a GPSr.

What are other interests or hobbies that you have (please go into detail / accomplishments)?

I love to read, swim and hike, and gardening is another favourite activity. John and I love to traveI. I make time for 2 TV shows – Survivor and Jeopardy, and this week I will also be tuning in to The Tudors. My other passion is needlework and I travel to needlework festivals every year.

What are some things you don’t like about geocaching? What are your pet peeves?

There are not too many things I don’t like about geoaching. The only thing I can think of is when I run across caches that haven’t been maintained or ones that have been “temporarily” disabled for a long time. This is one of the reasons why I haven’t placed too many caches yet. I am having enough trouble maintaining the ones I have! I can’t even imagine maintaining 30 or 40 of them!

Can you play a musical instrument?

I can play the piano.

What is the most memorable cache that you have found (or tried to find?)

I think the item in the Maples Mystery cache was the most interesting. I haven’t run across anything obscene or gross yet.

What items if any do you carry with you when you go on a hunt?

I have a backpack that contains a flashlight, my cell phone, writing instrument, gloves, bug spray, sunblock, swag/geocoins, Mr. Reachy tool, extendable magnet dealie, hand sanitizer, MBGA stickers, notepad, ziplocks, bottle of water, garbage bags, duct tape, pocket knife, camera, maps and bandaids. In the 4-runner, I have a stepstool. I have had to use that on numerous occasions. Having said all that, I often get to the cache site, and leave the bag in the car, and really regret it.

What kind of GPSr do you use?

Magellan Explorist 500

What is the meaning of your username?

Oooh I knew you were going to ask this one. When I signed up at geocaching.com, I had no idea how public my username would be. I tried lots of names with Georgia in it, but apparently everyone living in the state of Georgia had taken those already. Even Geogeo was gone. I got frustrated and resorted to my childhood nickname GG. This was also gone, and the website suggested that I add a number to it, and I tacked on the year I was born. So there you go – not too creative and way too informational… but no way to change it now.

My faithful hound, Zorro, has accompanied me on 90% of my adventures. My husband, John, got interested in it after I regaled him with stories, and now he joins me on most of the hunts. I have also cached with Ohmic and with my next-door neighbour McPhee.

If you could cache anywhere in the world, where would you like to go?

Hawaii

Is there a challenging local cache you have in your sights right now? Which one?

I have learned a lot about computers and text tools and encryption from this sport. I haven’t figured out ChewysI Stand Alone yet and it’s in my DR (Dani Radius), so I better start researching stenanography I guess. I do love the puzzles, although I am nowhere near as good at them as others.

Of your placed caches, which is your favorite? Why?

Definitely A Little Splash of Murder. It has received the most visits and given people lots of smiles. It was great fun writing the cache description and putting the physical cache together – I learned a lot about cache ownership from that one.

What kind of books do you prefer to read? What was the last book you read?

I love historical novels and novels about dogs and animals as I am a huge lover of all critters. The last book I read was The Mists of Avalon.

Do you use your GPSr for other reasons other than Geocaching?

I have used it for fun on airplanes. It’s fun to see what altitude we are at, how fast we are flying, how far into the trip we are etc. It also amuses fellow passengers and gives me an opportunity to tell them about geocaching!